This salad is made with simple ingredients and an easy peanut sauce that is delicious. I may double the sauce recipe next time. You could even add cooked chicken or beef or tofu to make this a main dish and serve it over rice or quinoa. So easy!
If you are not familiar with edamame, it is a young immature soybean, that looks just like a peapod. However, only eat the inner beans as the outer pod itself is fibrous and inedible. These are usually found in a small bag in the freezer section of your grocery store, most likely already shelled. Edamame is a superfood that is packed with protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals. They are often served as an appetizer at Japanese restaurants. The edamame is served warm. You sprinkle them with sea salt and place the pod inside your mouth and bite down and pull the pod out between your teeth, leaving the inner beans in your mouth. Delicious!
Salad ingredients:
3 cups frozen broccoli florets, thawed (or you may use fresh broccoli)
1 cup edamame, shelled and cooked
1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions
1/2 cup peanuts
1 batch peanut sauce (see recipe below)
sesame seeds (for garnish)
Peanut sauce ingredients:
1/4 cup natural peanut butter
1 TBS rice vinegar
1 TBS soy sauce
1 TBS honey or agave nectar
1/8 tsp toasted sesame oil
1 to 2 TBS hot water, as needed to thin the sauce
To make the broccoli salad:
Heat a large pot of water until it is boiling. Add in the broccoli florets and boil for 30 seconds. Use a mesh strainer to transfer them into a bowl of ice water, which will immediately halt the cooking process. Drain. Then add the remaining ingredients and toss until combined. Stir in the peanut sauce and stir until well coated.
To make the peanut sauce:
Whisk all ingredients together until combined. If the dressing is too thick, whisk in hot water a tablespoon at a time until it reaches the consistency you desire.
Serve immediately, garnished with sesame seeds if desired.
Serves: 4-6
Source: gimmesomeoven.com
Janice
